Coffee-flavored coffee?
Simple man seeking simple coffee. Strong, bold, and, well, single-dimensioned. I'm happiest when my coffee hits me hard and quickly disappears. No fruity finish, no licorice overtones, no floral flourish. Just slap me and leave me questioning my life choices until the next sip.
My gold standard was Philz Code 33. It was Mother's milk, the blood of life, and it made me a better human for a few hours. When they dropped it in favor of Aromatic Arabic, I went down fighting, kicking, and screaming - but ultimately accepted it. Like the toddler who realizes green beans are actually quite good, I settled in to eight-ish years of caffeinated bliss.
I was willingly blinded to the Philz spiral into evil. This year's actions finally cleared my vision and I canceled my subscription.
For the past six weeks, I've started a search for a replacement. Thus far I've tried Red Bay (Fourteenth St. and Slow Burn) and Verve (Bronson and Buena Vista). They're all really great. My favorite is Bronson, which indeed hits hard, but still leaves behind a subtle aftertaste.
Like my tastes, my criteria are pretty simple. Bay area-owned and roasted, ethics over raw profits, and offering subscriptions for bean delivery.
Can you please help guide my next purchase(s)? I'm very grateful for your recommendations.